Automatic train control and alarm.



. F. STEELE, JR.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN CONTROL AND ALARM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 31, 1913.

1,1 15,254., Patented Oct. 27, 19141 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS ca, PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON, D. c

P. STEELE, JR. AUTOMATIC TRAIN CONTROL AND ALARM.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.31.1913.

l, 1 1 5,254, Patented Oct. 27, 1914- 2 SHEBTS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS ca. PHDTO-LITHO., WASHINUI'QNv o, c.

FRANKLIN STEELE, JB., OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN CONTROL AND ALARM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 27, 1914:.

Application filed December 31, 1913. Serial No. 809,781.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANKLIN STEELE,

Jr., a citizen of the at Washington, in the D1 United States,

residing strict of Columbia,

have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Train Controls and Alarms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates for railroads, and is de attention of the engineer to safety devices signed to call the of a moving train to the fact that the ordinary signal, as a semaphore arm,

setto danger at the side of the track, has been passed, and at the same time to automatically shut off steam, set

the brakes, sound ated within the cab, or within the hearlng of the engineer,

an audible signal so situotherwlse, as to be and to display a signal visible to him. My invention is applicable in the equipment posts, semaphore arms,

of the for use without change road as to signal or the like employed in approved systems of block signaling.

In carrying out my invention, I attach an operative device tive cab, or to the expressor box car, of rolling stock.

roof of a passenger,

caboose or similar species As a part of this devlce to the top of a locomomail,

is used a rod or an arm extending upward from the roof of the cab or car, and calculated to come in contact with a fixed and the nected with a valve or valves,

bar projecting from a post,

arm to be inclined to move a rocker conor other devices, controlling the steam, the air brake and the alarm devices, Such alarm devlces may and a light, and these may or electrically operated.

Each post to which a is secured should ner of signal posts, in

or either of them.

be a bell or gong be mechanically ri id ole or bar be placed, after the mansuch proximity to the roadbed as is consistent with safety, the said bars belng each rigged as is a semaphore arm, which is fastened a wire and controlled by a lever to or cable. The arm upstanding from the roof of the cab or car should encounter the rigid pole or bar at a point twelve inches, more or less,

from

the extreme end of the former, the impact causing a depression or lowering of the arm to such extent that it may become is a link locked and held down until pressure is removed or the arm is otherwise released.

The rocker may be moved through the medium of the upstanding arm either with or ,without the interposition of concussion-reducing springs or similar instrumentalities, or the arm may in itself have a degree of flexibility.

The altitude of the arm mounted upon the cab or car should be such that it shall be in the path of the rigid bar when the latter is lowered into position for engagement, that is to say, when danger is indicated by the semaphore arm. The height at which the rigid bar is placed is uniform,

as also is or may be the height to which the arm projecting from the cab or car reaches. The extreme height of the arm above the top of the cab or car might be three feet more or less, and the greatest altitude of the rigid pole or bar above the roadbed should be such as to enable it to clear and escape contact with any upward projection from the locomotive, or any part of the train drawn thereby.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end view showing a portion of a cab or car and a post at the side ofthe track, the car and post carrying elements entering into my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view on enlarged scale more fully indicating features of the invention. Fig. 3 is an end view of part of Fig. 2. Fig. 45 is a side view showing a modification of a feature of my invention. Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically electrical connections optionally used in giving visual and audible signals. Fig. 6 shows a modification hereinafter described.

Let 1 represent a part of the upper portion of an engine cab or a car, of which 2 is the roof. As shown more particularly in Fig. 2, to this roof 2 is attached a base plate 11 having a central standard 3, to which is pivoted, by trunnions 4, a two-armed rocker 5. This rocker is provided at each end With a pivot, these being marked 6, 6

At 6 is journaled one end of a link 7, the other end of which is pivoted to the eye 8 of the plunger 9. This plunger passes through, and is guided by, the cylindrical boss 10 formed upon the base platell. Suspended from the pivot 6 of the rocker 5 12, which in turn is swiveled to able upon the pin 25,

the eye 13 of the plunger 14. Pivoted upon the rocker 5 by a pin 15 above the axis or trunnions 4, is a socket 18 having a rear part or foo-t Which normally rests upon a seat forming a part of the rocker, as shown in Fig. 2. The socket 18 carries an upstanding arm 16'which has movement, tov such positions as are indicated by dotted lines, upon its pin 15.. A spring 17 is coiled at one end around and secured to a projection of the pin 15, and its other end is fastened to the socket 18, which as stated, is pivotally connected by the pin 15 with the rocker 5.

Between the axis 4- of the rocker 5 and the pivot 6 is a pin 19 towhich is linked a plunger rod 20 havinga piston 21 fitting in a cylinder 22. This cylinder is adapted to an upon the pin 23, which rests in lugs formed upon the lower head of the cylinder 22and the base plate 11 respectively. der 22, with its piston pot to take up concussion to which the rocker 5 is subjected, as hereinafter explained.

In the forward path of the-arm l6qstands a rigid pole or bar 29, Fig. 1, carried by a post 24:,whiclrmay or may not serve as that used for the ordinary semaphore arm used in railroad signalin This bar 29 is movand provided at its inner end with a weight 26, and may be adjusted in its horizontal position, by means of devices usual inthe moving of semaphore arms,through the medium of the chain 27 whichpasses over: the pulley 28. It will be understood that when the semaphore arm is set at danger the bar 29 willalso be brought to. horizontal position. e

Other parts entering into my invention will be referred'to inthe description of the The cylinoper-ation of the device as shown more particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, as follows: Let it be supposed that an engineer, through negligence or inadvertence, has passed a danger signal. The same mechanism, and the same action which-has set the semaphore arm to danger will by preference have set the arm 29 to horizontal position. The train moving in the direction of the arrow at the upper part of Fig. 2, on the arm 16 striking the bar 29 the former will tilt the rocker 5, and sliding under said bar will assume the position shown'in dotted lines at the right of Fig. 2. After the arm 16 passes the bar 29 the spring 17 will restore it to its normal upstanding position. The action of the dash pot 21 and its adjuncts is so calculated as to allow such impact of the arm 16 with the bar 29 as will give'the necessary move ment to the rocker- 5, without offering such resistance to the shock as might result in the distortion or breakage of said arm. The depression of the plunger 9 at the right of Fig. 2, will through the medium of the valve 21, serves as adashmechanism, indicated generally by 30, and which is in communication with an air or vacuum brake system, effect the setting of brakes, while the rising of the plunger 14 will produce the sounding of the gong 31.

' The plunger 9, or that 14, may have appropriate mechanical connection with a steam "valve whereby to shut ofi' steam from the engine. Such a valve and suitable connec-. tions are shown by 32.

In Fig. 4 '16 shows an arm sufiiciently flexible to perform the work above described with reference to the-arm 16 without the use of such concussion-reducing appliances or means forrestoring the arm to its normal upstanding position asare shownin Figs. 2fand 3. The arm 16 will be of some'appropriate metal giving it the requisite strength and. resiliency.'

In Fig. 5 are shown electric feeding wires 33 connected up with a circuitin whichare included a light andabell. The circuit is seen open, but the switch arm 34 is moved so as to close the circuit by means of the plunger 14 with which this electric signaling device may optionally be combined.

In Fig. 2 the dotted lines at the left show the position to which the arm 16 is brought orplaced when the engine-is backing so as to clear the bar 29. I e

While in myprefer-red construction, I employ a rocker having two arms, and there fore in its vibrationcapable of performing the various operations hereinbefo-re described, I may use, as shown in Fig. 6', a

rocker 5 having but one arm, with a link 7* which may be connected up with the valve of the brake system, and also with alarm and other means. This arm is provided with a resistant 21 ment described. No change is required in this modification in the constructionor placing of the upstanding arm, here shown In the claims the word car is to be understood ascovering any-suitable part of a locomotive, as its cab, or any species of railroad rolling stock. r

I claim 1. In an automatic train control and alarm, the combination of a standard mounted on a car, a rocker journaled in said standard, an upstanding and self-rightingarm carried by said rocker, a rigid pole or bar mountedin the path of said upstanding arm, shock-reducing means associated with said rocker, and alarm means connected with said rocker and adapted to be put in action when movement given to the upstanding arm by contact with said rigid pole or bar is communicated by said arm to said rocker, sub stantially as set forth.

2. In an automatic train control and alarm, the combination of a standard mount-- ed on a car, a rocker journaled in said stand as in the preferred arrangeard, an upstanding and self-righting arm carried by said rocker, a rigid pole or bar mounted in the path of said upstanding arm, shock-reducing means associated with said rocker, and control and alarm means connected with said rocker and adapted to be put in action when movement given to the upstanding arm by contact with said rigid In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANKLIN STEELE, J R. Witnesses:

CHARLES LOWELL HOWARD, C. B. BULL.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

